Communications system with data storage device interface protocol connectors and related methods

ABSTRACT

A communications system may include a plurality of data storage devices for storing data using at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols. The system may further include a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices for accessing the data storage devices and each using at least one of the plurality of different operating protocols. Moreover, a protocol interface device may also be included. The protocol interface device may include a front-end proxy module for communicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols, and a protocol engine module communicating with the front-end proxy module using a common interface protocol. The protocol interface device may also include a respective interface connector module for translating communications between the protocol engine module and the plurality of data storage devices for each of the different operating protocols.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/494,235 filed Aug. 11, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein inits entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of communications systems,and, more particularly, to communications systems using multipleoperating protocols for data access operations and related methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Software clients operating on or in conjunction with a computer systemare often used to access data stored at a server with which the computersystem can establish communications, such as through a local area on theserver is accessible only through a particular protocol, which in turntends to limit a user to a particular client. Similarly, a particulartype of client is typically configurable to operate with only certaintypes of servers or protocols.

In an e-mail system, for example, in which users have associatedmailboxes on a mail server, a particular protocol and often a particularmessaging client is required for e-mail access. There is no singlestandard method for accessing e-mail stored on a server. Instead, thereare several incompatible protocols defined by various vendors andstandards bodies. In addition, the explosion of the Internet hasresulted in several key problems. First, in order to obtain control overtheir user base, several Internet-based e-mail providers have extendedstandard protocols with their own proprietary extensions. Other vendorshave gone away from RFC-based protocols and have defined new protocolsfrom the ground up.

Moreover, many vendors have chosen to implement standard protocols suchas Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Post Office Protocol(POP), but have interpreted the rules of these protocols differently.Because of this proliferation of access mechanisms, there is no singleway to access all of these mail stores. Applications that need to accessthese mail stores quickly become overly complicated when attempting toaccount for all of the different protocols and implementations of theprotocols.

Various prior art approaches have been developed for providingcommunications between systems and devices using different operatingprotocols. One such approach is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,212 toDutta et al., in which a transcoding proxy server receives a request forcontent from a client machine. The transcoding proxy server retrievesthe content from an originating server. The retrieved content isprovided in a first format type. In response to a determination that anincrease in efficiency would be obtained by allowing the client toprocess the content in the first format type prior to transcoding thecontent into a second format type, the transcoding proxy server sendsthe content to the client in the first format type.

Furthermore, in response to a determination that the client does nothave content processing software for processing the content in the firstformat, the transcoding proxy server sends content processing softwarefor the first format type along with the content in the first formattype to the client. The transcoding proxy server then transcodes thecontent from the first format type into the second format type and sendsthe content in the second format to the client.

Despite such prior art approaches, further protocol translation and/orconversion functionality may be desirable in certain applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide a communications system providing enhancedoperating protocol conversion features and related methods.

This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with thepresent invention are provided by a communications system which mayinclude a plurality of data storage devices for storing data using atleast one of a plurality of different operating protocols. The systemmay further include a plurality of mobile wireless communicationsdevices for accessing the data storage devices and each using at leastone of the plurality of different operating protocols. Moreover, aprotocol interface device may also be included. The protocol interfacedevice may include a front-end proxy module for communicating with theplurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respectiveoperating protocols, and a protocol engine module communicating with thefront-end proxy module using a common interface protocol. The protocolinterface device may also include a respective interface connectormodule for translating communications between the protocol engine moduleand the plurality of data storage devices for each of the differentoperating protocols.

More particularly, the protocol engine module may be a universal proxyservlet module. In addition, the protocol interface device may alsoinclude a plurality of provider modules coupled between the universalproxy servlet module and the plurality of interface connector modules.The universal proxy servlet module may generate calls for the pluralityof interface connector modules based upon respective data accessrequests from the front-end proxy module, and the plurality of providermodules transfer the calls to respective interface connector modules.

By way of example, the interface connector modules may include aMicrosoft Exchange connector module, a Domino connector module, anAmerica Online (AOL) connector module, a Hotmail connector module, aMicrosoft Network (MSN) connector module, a Compuserve connector module,a Post Office Protocol (POP) connector module, and an Internet MessageAccess Protocol (IMAP) connector module. Of course, other interfaceconnector modules may also be used.

The plurality of data storage devices, the plurality of mobile wirelesscommunications devices, and the protocol interface device may processelectronic mail (e-mail) messages, for example. Also, the commoninterface protocol may be based upon a Web-based distributed authoringand versioning (WebDAV) protocol. Furthermore, the protocol interfacedevice may generate an error responsive to at least one non-supportedoperating protocol.

The communications system may further include a wide area network (WAN),such as the Internet, connecting at least one of the mobile wirelesscommunications devices with the protocol interface device. Additionally,such a WAN may also be used to connect at least one of the data storagedevices with the protocol interface device.

A method aspect of the invention is for interfacing a plurality ofmobile wireless communications devices with a plurality of data storagedevices. The mobile wireless communications devices and the data storagedevices may each use at least one of a plurality of different operatingprotocols. The method may include providing a front-end proxy module forcommunicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communicationsdevices using respective operating protocols, and providing a protocolengine module communicating with the front-end proxy module using acommon interface protocol. The method may further include providing arespective interface connector module for translating communicationsbetween the protocol engine module and the plurality of data storagedevices for each of the different operating protocols.

A protocol interface device in accordance with the invention may includea front-end proxy module and a protocol engine module, such as thosedescribed briefly above, for example. Moreover, a computer-readablemedium in accordance with the present invention may similarly include afront-end proxy module and a protocol engine module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communications system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the protocol interfacedevice of the communications system of FIG. 1 in greater detail.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the extensiblefront-end proxy module of the protocol interface device of FIG. 2 ingreater detail.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic block diagrams illustrating an alternateembodiment of a communications system in accordance with the inventionimplementing an extensible proxy architecture similar to that of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an alternate embodiment of theprotocol interface device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram further illustrating the protocolengine module of the protocol interface device of FIG. 3 and interfaceconnector modules therefor.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an alternate embodiment of theprotocol engine module and interface connector modules of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of still another alternateembodiment of the protocol interface device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of yet another alternate embodimentof the protocol interface device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the protocolinterface device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the front-end proxymodule of FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the communicationssystem of FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the protocolinterface module of FIG. 6.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the protocol engineand interface connector modules of FIG. 7.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the protocolinterface device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the protocolinterface device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary mobile wirelesscommunications device for use with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation andmultiple prime notation are used to indicate similar elements inalternate embodiments.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a communications system 10 includes a protocolinterface device 14 that provides access to a plurality of data storagedevices or systems 16, 18, 20. The communications system 10illustratively includes a plurality of communications devices, namely amobile wireless communications device 11 and a communications device 12connected to the system via a wired connection. By way of example,various mobile wireless communications devices may be used in accordancewith the invention, such as personal data assistants (PDAs), cellulartelephones, etc. An exemplary mobile wireless communications device 11suitable for use with the present invention is described in the exampleprovided below with reference to FIG. 18. Moreover, examples of wiredcommunications devices include personal computers, telephones, faxmachines, etc. Of course, numerous wired and wireless devices may beused, although only two are shown in the exemplary embodiment forclarity of illustration.

The communications devices 11, 12 typically include software clients,which are software modules or applications that operate on or inconjunction with their respective communications device to provideaccess to data stored at one or more of the data storage devices 16, 18,and 20 through the protocol interface device 14. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that such communications devices also includefurther components and/or software modules, which have not beenexplicitly shown in FIG. 1 for clarity of illustration. With respect tothe mobile wireless communications device 11, its software clientcommunicates with the protocol interface device 14 via a wirelesscommunication network 13, and perhaps other networks as well (e.g., apublic switched telephone network (PSTN) or the Internet), as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art.

The various functions and operations of the protocol interface device 14are preferably implemented in software operating thereon, or inconjunction therewith. The protocol interface device 14 illustrativelybridges the software clients of the communications devices 11, 12 andthe data storage devices 16, 18, 20. Communications between the protocolinterface device 14, the communications devices 11, 12, and the datastorage devices 16, 18, 20 are preferably via a wide area network (WAN)such as the Internet. That is, the communications devices 11, 12 maycommunicate with the protocol interface device 14 via the Internet, asnoted above, and so too may the protocol interface device communicatewith the data storage devices 16, 18, 20.

Of course, other implementations are also contemplated. For example, theprotocol interface device 14 may be implemented in a private networkthat also includes the data storage devices 16, 18, 20, thecommunications devices 11, 12, or both the data storage devices and thecommunications devices (e.g., in a WAN). It should be noted that thepresent invention is in no way limited to any particular connection orcommunication scheme.

The data storage devices 16, 18, 20 store data to be accessed by thesoftware clients of the communications devices 11, 12. Although somesoftware clients are configurable to directly access certain types ofdata storage devices, they are often data system specific or protocolspecific, as described briefly above. More particularly, on constrainedelectronic devices such as the mobile wireless communication device 11,processor power, memory resources, and communication channelcharacteristics may preclude the installation and operation of softwareclients having the same capabilities as those commonly used on desktopand laptop computer systems, for example. In addition, while theinstallation of multiple software clients for accessing data storagedevices associated with different protocols is feasible for desktop andlaptop computer systems, providing multiple-protocol support on suchconstrained devices may not be possible.

The data storage devices 16, 18, 20 are accessible using differentoperating protocols or access schemes. As such, the protocol interfacedevice 14 accesses the data storage devices 16, 18, 20 via an operatingprotocol supported by respective data storage devices, and provides datato the communications device 11, 12 via a respective client-supportedoperating protocol. The protocol conversion functionality of theprotocol interface device 14 provides a unified approach to supportaccess to multiple types of data system. As described in further detailbelow, the protocol interface device 14 provides an “any-to-any” bridgebetween different protocols or access schemes.

The protocol interface device 14 is illustrated in further detail inFIG. 2. As noted above, the protocol interface device 14 bridgesdifferent types of communications devices with different types of datastorage devices. In the illustrated embodiment, data storage devices 24,26, 28 are systems/servers for storing electronic mail (e-mail).However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited tomail system access. Each of the mail systems 24, 26, 28 supports adifferent operating protocol or access scheme. More particularly, themail system 24 supports Outlook Web Access (OWA), the mail system 26supports Microsoft Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI),and the mail system 28 supports a proprietary protocol, such as thatused by America Online (AOL), for example.

The protocol interface system 14 illustratively includes a front-endproxy module 30. The front-end proxy module illustratively includesproxy modules 34, 36, 38, 40 which respectively support the WirelessApplication Protocol (WAP), the Post Office Protocol (POP), the InternetMessage Access Protocol (IMAP), and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP) for communication with clients.

The front-end proxy 30 also communicates with a protocol engine module32. The protocol engine module 32 translates OWA, MAPI, the proprietaryprotocol of the mail system 28 (and other protocols, if desired) into aformat compatible with the front-end proxy module 30. To this end, arespective interface connector module may 70-77 (FIG. 7) be coupled tothe protocol engine module 32 for each of the operating protocols usedby the mail systems 24, 26, 28, as will be discussed further below. In apreferred embodiment, the front-end proxy module 30 and the protocolengine module 32 are extensible or expandable to accommodate additionaloperating protocols as they become available, as will also be discussedfurther below.

In operation, a user accesses a mailbox on one of the mail systems 24,26, 28 through client software on his communications device. Forexample, a WAP browser on a mobile wireless communication devicecommunicates with the WAP proxy module 34 to access the mail system 24.Access commands or instructions received by the WAP proxy 34 areconverted into a format compatible with the protocol engine module 32.Communications between the front-end proxy module 30 and the protocolengine module 32 are preferably achieved via a common interfaceprotocol, which may be a proprietary protocol or an established publicprotocol.

The protocol engine module 32 then translates the access commands orinstructions received from the front-end proxy module 30 into a protocolassociated with the mail system to be accessed (e.g., OWA for the mailsystem 24). Data received from the mail system (e.g., e-mail messages, alist of new messages, calendar appointments, tasks, etc., depending onthe particular mail system), the features that its access protocolsupports, and the nature of the access command are translated into thecommon interface protocol and transferred to the front-end proxy.

The active proxy module (i.e., the WAP proxy module 34 in the presentexample) then formats the received data, or at least portions thereof,for the requesting client. Further commands from the client are alsotranslated by the protocol interface device 14. Access commands fromother types of clients are similarly processed. It should be noted thatseveral mail systems may be accessed in response to a single accesscommand, where a user has enabled multiple mailbox access through theprotocol interface device 14.

The protocol interface device 14 thus allows clients using differentoperating protocols to access the mail systems 24, 26, 28, which alsouse different operating protocols. Access commands such as move, delete,create, send, fetch, and view, for example, that are generated at aclient affect the data stored at the mail systems 24, 26, 28 instead ofcopies of the data. Through the protocol interface device 14, a clientcompatible with any one of the proxy modules 34, 36, 38, 40 is providedaccess to one or more of the mail systems 24, 26, 28. The client itselfadvantageously need not support the access protocol or scheme associatedwith the mail system(s) to be accessed.

Since the mail system protocol and the client protocol need not becompatible, feature support between the protocols may be different. Forexample, a POP client does not support the same features as OWA. Theinterface protocol used between the protocol engine module 32 and thefront-end proxy module 30 is preferably designed to be able to representa desired number of protocol-supported elements or features for adesired operating protocol. More specifically, the common interfaceprotocol is preferably able to represent all protocol-supported elementsfor the most “capable” protocol (OWA in the present example), to providethe broadest possible feature support. Further still, the commoninterface protocol may support a full feature set across all supportedprotocols, if desired.

By way of example, the common interface protocol may be a proprietaryprotocol based on the Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning(WebDAV) protocol. An example of an authentication request using such acommon interface protocol is provided as program listing #1, below. Thisexemplary authentication request routine allows the protocol interfacedevice 14 to be authenticated by a mail system using a user identifierand password provided by a user, and it also retrieves a root folder andbasic capabilities of a target mailbox on the mail system.

An exemplary inbox request in accordance with a WebDAV-based commoninterface protocol is set forth below as program listing #2. Inaccordance with this routine, responsive to an inbox request, thecapabilities of the inbox in a target mailbox are queried, and then itscontents are queried. Another example is provided below as programlisting #3, which is for a folder search request in accordance with theaforementioned WebDAV-based common interface protocol. Here, a list ofsubfolders for a given folder is returned in response to this request.It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous otherrequests and operations may be used as well.

It should be noted that the software clients need not initiate dataaccess requests in all embodiments. For example, in some embodiments theprotocol interface device 14 may include (or communicate with) a pollingor aggregation engine module (not shown) that prompts the protocolengine module 32 to aggregate messages for respective users from themail systems 24, 26, 28 at predetermined intervals, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art. The protocol engine module 14would then cooperate with the front-end proxy module 30 to provide theaggregated messages to the respective software clients, as describedabove. Additionally, the front-end proxy module 30 need not communicatedirectly with the communications devices 11, 12 in all embodiments, butit may instead communicate therewith via an intervening mail system orserver, for example. Thus, in the case where an aggregation enginemodule is used, the aggregated messages may be first transferred by thefront-end proxy module 30 to an intervening mail server, which in turnprovides the messages to the appropriate communications device, as willalso be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Here again, thefront-end proxy module 30 would use the appropriate protocol(s)supported by such intervening mail server for communicating therewith.

A method for providing access to a plurality of data storage devices,such as the mail systems 24, 26, 28, using the protocol interface system14 is illustrated in FIG. 11. Beginning at Block 110, an access commandor data is first received, at Block 111. The access command or data istranslated into the common interface protocol, at Block 112. An accesscommand is then translated (Block 113) into a data system protocolassociated with the data system to be accessed, such as OWA for the mailsystem 24, for example.

On the other hand, data is translated into the client protocol, at Block113. Depending upon the particular features supported by the clientprotocol, only those portions of the data corresponding to elements ofthe interface protocol that are supported by the client protocol aretranslated during this step. The protocol interface device 14 maygenerate an error responsive to a non-supported operating protocol. Moreparticularly, non-supported interface protocol elements are preferablyignored or processed according to a default or error-processing scheme.Translated access commands or data are then transferred to a data systemor a client, at Block 114, thus concluding the illustrated method (Block115).

Turning now additionally to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of thefront-end proxy module 30 is now described. The front-end proxy module30 illustratively includes the proxy modules 34, 36, 38, 40, a renderermodule 44, an extensible stylesheet language transformations (XSLT)engine module 46, a memory or template store 48, a flow controllermodule 50, and handlers 52 a-52 n.

As noted above, each proxy module 34, 36, 38, 40 effectively “fronts”the protocol engine module 32 and translates respective operatingprotocols for different client types. For example, a WAP proxy moduleprovides information retrieved from one or more of the handlers 52 a-52n in the form of WML documents targeted for display on devices such ascell phones and PDAs. A POP proxy makes use of at least some of the sameproxy components, including the flow controller module 50 and therenderer module 44 to render data in the form required by the POPprotocol.

One particularly advantageous benefit of the illustrated front-end proxymodule 30 is that each proxy module 34, 36, 38, 40 makes use of the samecore services to route traffic, access data, and render data. In otherwords, the renderer module 44, XSLT engine module 46, template memory48, flow controller module 50, and handlers 52 a-52 n provide a commoncore service module for the proxy modules 34, 36, 38, 40. The onlydifferences between translations by the different proxy modules 34, 36,38, 40 would be in the configuration of the flow controller 50, thehandlers 52 a-52 n, and the XSL templates used to translate the datainto its final form. It many cases, the same handlers 52 a-52 n will bere-used between by the various proxy modules 34, 36, 38, 40, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art.

During operation, a data access request from a client is passed to theappropriate proxy module 34, 36, 38, 40 using standard mechanisms forthe client protocol. For a WAP client, for example, parameters arepassed via a query string and/or form variables. The WAP proxy module 34determines a component identifier (which identifies a target item suchas a mail folder), an action identifier (which identifies an action tobe performed), and any parameters based on data in the request. In thecase of WAP, the component and action identifiers are passed in thequery string or form. Other parameters in the query string or form arepackaged into a parameter list.

The active proxy module then calls the flow controller 50, passing alongthe identifiers and parameter list. The flow controller looks up theappropriate handler via the component and action identifiers andconstructs the handler, passing the parameters as arguments to aconstructor (not shown). Using the handler 52 a as an example, thishandler would processes the request, using a data layer (FIG. 5) togather information needed for a response.

For mail system access, for instance, the data layer communicates withthe protocol engine module 32 for any information related to thecontents of the user's mailbox, calendar, or address book, for example.Communications with other components may be established for differenttypes of information, such as information related to authenticationservices and a user's e-mail account. The handler 52 a then decideswhether the request should be forwarded to another handler, or if itsresults should be rendered.

All information passed back by the handlers 52 a-52 n is preferably in acommon format, such as org.xml.sax.InputSource, for example, a providerof extensible mark-up language (XML) data. The active proxy module thencalls the renderer module 44, passing along the InputSource, localeinformation, the name of the template to be rendered, and anOutputStream. The renderer module 44, making use of the XSLT engine 46,renders the page into the OutputStream. The OutputStream is thenprovided to the client by the active proxy module using the clientprotocol.

The above system provides a generic application framework following theclassic model/view/controller (MVC) architecture that implements most ofthe application infrastructure. One important feature is that a base setof functionality may be defined for similar services and then extendedto provide the service-specific functionality required to fullyimplement a given service. Within a given implementation, the flowcontroller 50, the handlers 52 a-52 n, and/or the data access layer arefully extensible or replaceable.

With this in mind, supporting a brand new service simply involvesdefining and implementing the data layer, defining the control flow anddiscrete actions within the system (i.e., the flow controller module50), and defining and implementing the interface with the service (i.e.,the renderer module 44). On the other hand, supporting a new type ofclient with an existing service involves making minor changes to, andextending actions within, the flow controller module 50 and handlers 52a-52 n to support additional client-required functionality, and definingand implementing the interface between the client and the system (i.e.,the renderer module 44).

Operation of the front-end proxy module 30 to perform protocoltranslation is further described with respect to the block diagram ofFIG. 12. Certain of the illustrated operations have been described indetail above, and thus will be described only briefly below to avoidundue repetition. Beginning at Block 120, an access request or commandis received at a proxy module 34, 36, 38, 40, at Block 121. The accessrequest is translated into the common interface protocol by one or moreof the handlers 52 a-52 n, at Block 122.

Data is received from a given mail system 24, 26, 28 in response to therequest, at Block 123. This data, which has already been translated intothe common interface protocol by the protocol engine module 32, isrendered (Block 124) and returned to the client, at Block 125, thusconcluding the illustrated method (Block 126). Depending upon theparticular features supported by the client protocol, only portions ofthe data corresponding to elements of the common interface protocol thatare supported by the client protocol are rendered or translated.Non-supported interface protocol elements may be ignored or processedaccording to a default or error processing scheme, as noted above.

It should be noted that the extensible, common core service architectureof the front-end proxy module 30 may also be used for a variety ofapplications. One such application is to address various shortcomings ofthe disparate methods used to respond to HTTP requests from a Webapplication. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a Web data access system100 having an extensible architecture in accordance with the presentinvention is now described. The components of the Web data access system100 communicate bi-directionally, and they illustratively include a userrequest 101, a Web server 102, a proxy server 104, and an extensiblecontroller system 106.

More particularly, the user request 101 refers to a user using a webbrowser or web application to request a web page (e.g., from a PDA orpersonal computer). Once the request is made, the Web server 102processes the request. The proxy server 104 assists the Web server 102in processing the request. For comparison purposes, the proxy server 104here functions similar to the protocol interface device 14 discussedabove, and the extensible controller system 106 would be implemented asa software module that is run on or in conjunction with the proxyserver, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of course,in some embodiments the proxy server 104 and extensible controllersystem 106 could be implemented in different physical devices orservers, for example.

The proxy server 104 provides a process of providing cached or storageitems available on other servers which are slower or more resourceintensive to access. The proxy server 104 accepts URLs with a specialprefix. When it receives a request for such a URL, it strips off theprefix and looks for the resulting URL in its local cache. If found, itreturns the document immediately, otherwise it fetches it from theremote server, saves a copy in the cache, and returns it to therequester. The pages returned by the proxy server 104 can be eitherstatic or dynamic in nature. The proxy server 104 may communicate withapplication servers or data servers, and in this specific embodiment,the extensible controller system 106.

More particularly, the components of the proxy server 104 illustrativelyinclude an aggregate server 202, a renderer module 212, an XSLT enginemodule 214, and a memory 216 for storing a series of templates, similarto those described above. The components of the extensible controllersystem 106 include an action map 204, and a series of handlers 206, alsosimilar to those discussed above.

The aggregate server 202 performs the processing of incoming informationand passes it onto other components for assistance. The renderer module212 renders the resultant data into a viewable format. The renderermodule 212 makes use of the XSLT engine module 214 and any necessarytemplates from the memory 216 to render the page.

The aggregate server 202 sends data to the action map 204, whichmaintains the control flow and handles the business logic in the system.The action map 204 interacts with a series of handlers 206. The handler206 utilizes the data layer 208 to retrieve information from other datasources 210. The other data sources 210 may include, for example, XMLfor web data, a universal proxy for any information related to thecontents of user applications (e.g., e-mail, calendar or contact), or aprovisioning API for authentication services and data relating to a useraccount.

The system functions by having a user send in a URL as a user request101. This request is received at the Web server 102, which passes on tothe proxy server 104 for processing using standard mechanisms for theprotocol. For example, a WML request would pass a WAP parameter querystring and/or form variables. The aggregate server 202 component of theproxy server 104 determines the component ID, action ID and anyparameters based on data in the request. Using the same WAP example, thecomponent and action IDs are passed in the query string or form. Allother parameters in the query string or form are packaged up into aparameter list.

The aggregate server 202 then calls the action map 204 of the extensiblecontroller system 106 and passes along the IDs and parameter list. Theaction map 204 looks up the appropriate handler 206 via the componentand action IDs and constructs the handler, passing the parameters asarguments to the constructor. The handler 206 processes the request,using the data layer 208 to gather information needed for a response.The data layer 208 will retrieve information from other data sources 210located within the network or external to the network. The handler 206then decides whether the request should be forwarded to another handler206, or if its results should be rendered.

If the system decides to render the data, the data is passed from thehandler 206, back to the action map 204, and back to aggregate server202 of the proxy server 104. The aggregate server 202 then calls therenderer module 212, which invokes the XSLT engine module 214 and anynecessary templates to render the data into a viewable output. Thisoutput is then returned to the Web server 102 to serve the data as aviewable web page as a result of the user request 101.

The various steps involved in processing Web data using the extensiblecontroller system 106 will now be further described with reference toFIG. 13. More particularly, this diagram illustrates in greater detailthe processing and interaction of the proxy server 104 and theextensible controller system 106. The system flow begins with a userrequest 101. This request is sent to the Web server 102, which passesthe information to the proxy server 104 for processing. The proxy server104 invokes the aggregate server 202 for processing.

The aggregate server 202 determines whether a context is available, atBlock 302. If it is available, the system will move to the next step tomine the IDs (Block 306). If it is not available, the system will firstcreate the context, at Block 304, and then continue onto the step tomine the IDs, at Block 306. The action ID and component ID are alsomined out of the system. These IDs, along with the request parametersand any form data, are packaged into an envelope and gathered together,at Block 308.

An invoke procedure is called to pass the data from the aggregate server202 to the action map 204 of the extensible controller system 106. Thisinvoke procedure will pass information pertaining to the envelope, anaction code, the component ID and context info to the action map 204.The action map 204 looks up the action, at Block 310, and determineswhether the action exists, at Block 312. If it does, then it moves tothe next step to determine whether the action requires authentication,at Block 316. If the action does not exist, the system retrieves thedefault action, at Block 314, and then determines whether the actionrequires authentication, at Block 316.

At this point, if the action does not require authentication, the systemdetermines if any requests are pending, at Block 320. If the action doesrequire authentication, the system then determines whether the contextis in an authenticated state, at Block 318. If the context is in anauthenticated state, the system then determines whether a request ispending, at Block 320. However, if the context is not in anauthenticated state, the system returns the request to the retrievedefault action, at Block 314, until authentication is accepted.

At Block 320, the system determines if a request is pending. If arequest is pending, the system executes on the pending request and jumpsto next stage, determining whether a process is in queue, at Block 346.If no request is pending, the system executes on the action andvalidates on the envelope data, at Block 322, and passes control to thehandler 206 to create the action handler, at Block 324. Once the actionhandler is created, it is initialized, at Block 326.

The system then determines whether background processing is allowed, atBlock 328. If so, a background handler is created, at Block 344, and thesystem determines whether a process is in queue, at Block 346. However,if background processing is not allowed, the system then processes theaction handler, at Block 330, and then returns the result, at Block 332.Revisiting the system, at Block 346 the system determines whether aprocess is in the queue. If the process is in the queue, it thendetermines whether the action is complete, at Block 350. If the processis not in the queue, then it submits it to the queue, at Block 348, andthen determines whether the action handler is complete, at Block 350.

If the action handler is complete, the system returns the action handlerresult, at Block 352. If the action handler is not complete, the systemreturns the pending render result, at Block 354. The output of the stepsillustrated at Blocks 352 and 354 (returning either an action handlerresult or pending renderer result) will be used to determine whether torender the result, at Block 334.

More particularly, the results of the steps illustrated at Blocks 332(return result), 352 (return action handler result) and 354 (returnpending render result) are used to determine whether to render theresult (Block 334). If the system decides to render the result, thesystem sends the data from the extensible controller system 106 to theproxy server 404 and renders the data, at Block 340, at the renderermodule 212. The data is then passed onto the Web server 102 to displaythe result, at Block 342, as a response to the user request 101.However, if the system decides not to render the result and has insteaddecided to forward the request to another action handler for processing,the system retrieves the ID keys, at Block 336, retrieves the envelopedata, at Block 338, and then looks up the appropriate action, at Block310. The system will loop around at this point until a decision torender a result is ultimately accepted, at Block 334.

The above-described method involves using a single source for definingthe components within the system. In this particular embodiment, thesource is an XML file, but other formats could be used as well, as willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art. This source would define thecode that handles the request, the URL syntax and parameters, templatesor code used to generate the response for the request, and the routinginformation for the request, for example.

The code that handles the request, along with the parameter definition,is used by the system to create the action handler, pass the correctlytyped parameters, and pass control to it for processing. The parametersinclude type information allowing for strongly typed data. Theparameters may also be defined as optional or required. The template ortemplates are used to generate the response for the request. If anattempt is made to generate a response other than to what was defined anerror is generated.

The source would also define the routing information for the request.Often times, it is desirable for a handler to perform work within itsscope and then hand off control to another handler to allow it toperform its work. However, if the handler attempts to hand control tosomething not defined in the source, an error is generated.

Other variations are also possible. For example, the source may be usedwhenever generating URL's for use within the system. Moreover, requestrouting may be separated from the actual processing of those requests.Control flow is then handled by one component of the system, not by eachhandler. The handler would then simply ask the controller to forward arequest to another handler. Thus, incoming data may be kept in a knownstate for the life of a particular request.

Yet another approach involves enforcing control flow through the systemwhere one handler does not call another handler directly to do its work.Still another approach involves keeping the handlers relatively smalland simple. That is, this will limit the handler's purpose and scope toreceiving requests and calling the appropriate business logic to gatherthe desired results. Another variation involves keeping each handlerfocused on one task, and upon completion of the task, allowing theresults to be rendered or forwarded on to the next handler.

A further variation involves providing an extensible mechanism forhandling requests that can handle immediate needs, as well as grow overtime without becoming overly complex. When loading the system, the useris able to specify a primary and secondary action map. In this way,generic business logic and control flow may be specified by the primaryaction map while still providing the user with a method of adding ormodifying the functionality. Another approach is to provide thedeveloper with a generic mechanism for responding quickly to longrunning requests to avoid generating a timeout. This enables thedeveloper to specify background processing at either a handler level, orat the entire system.

The above-described extensible controller is particularly advantageousfor addressing shortcomings in Web or HTTP-based applications. Ofcourse, it will be also appreciated by those skilled in the art thatthis same architecture may be extended to support other types ofnon-HTTP based applications as well.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an alternate embodiment of the protocol interfacedevice 14′ is now described. In the illustrated embodiment, all requeststo a data storage device, such as the mail systems 24′, 26′, 28′, aredefined in configuration files stored in a configuration file store ormemory 31′. In this way, for a given client category, an applicationdeveloper can easily request only those properties required to supportthe client for which it was written.

A resource manager, which may be part of the front-end proxy module 30′or a separate component of the protocol interface device 14′,advantageously allows a user to specify a primary and secondary set ofconfiguration files. If a secondary configuration file is specified, anyresources defined in it will override those specified in the primaryconfiguration file. This allows the user to specify a core set ofresources and then tweak them to fit a particular implementation.

Moreover, configuration files may be stored for processing operations atdifferent network layers. For example, configuration files for datalayer operations for interfacing the front-end proxy module 30′ andprotocol engine module 32′ may be stored in the memory 31′, as well forupper network layer operations performed by the flow controller module50, for example. Other types of configurations files may be used aswell, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

A configuration file also preferably specifies the implementation classthat is created to handle the response to a given request. This makes ita simple matter to slightly change the behavior of an object in a datamodel, or even completely replace it. Caching behavior and strength foreach request may also be specified in a configuration file. With acombination of these two properties, a developer can have much greatercontrol over memory consumption and response/request performance.

In addition, configuration files also allow a user to specify multiplerequests for a given resource. This makes it possible to support datasystems with different request/response formats. An exemplaryconfiguration file is provided below as program listing #4. Thisconfiguration file is suitable for a data store that supports a WebDAVinterface, as discussed above, or in the case of the protocol interfacedevice 14′, a protocol engine that supports a WebDAV interface. However,it could be used for other types interfaces/data stores as well.

It should also be noted that, in addition to the content class specifiedfor the resource, a user may also specify a command to further identifya given resource. This allows the user to perform multiple differentoperations on a given resource type, as will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art.

Operation of the protocol interface device 14′ using configuration fileswill now be described further with reference to FIG. 14. Beginning atBlock 140, an access request or command is received at a proxy module,at Block 141. The access request is translated into the common interfaceprotocol by a handler 52 a-52 n, at Block 142, with reference to one ormore configuration files. Data that is received from the data system(Block 143) in response to the request, and which has already beentranslated into the common interface protocol by the protocol enginemodule 32′, is formatted into a response and rendered, at Block 144.Again, this is done with reference to one or more configuration files.The rendered response is then returned to the client (Block 145), thusconcluding the illustrated methods, at Block 146.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 7, the protocol engine module 32 willnow be described in further detail. The protocol engine module 32provides a framework to incorporate various interface connector modules70-77 that communicate with various mail systems using differentprotocols. The protocol engine module 32 also provides a commoninterface XML and WebDAV, for example, that the clients, through thefront-end proxy module 30, use to access various mail accounts. Commonoperations like retrieving only the essential headers of new mail anddetermining the presence and size of attachments without downloadingthem are highly efficient. All operations are performed directly on thesource, and only the essential data is retrieved.

The protocol engine module 32 uses an appropriate one of a plurality ofinterface connector modules 70-77 to access a mail account. All of theconnector modules 70-77 preferably support a common applicationprogramming interface (API), such that adapting the protocol enginemodule 32 to support a new protocol amounts to simply adding a newinterface connector module. The connector modules 70-77 may be writtenin Java, for example, although other suitable languages or protocols mayalso be used. Overall system performance and availability may beimproved, for example, by providing multiple dynamically load-balancedprotocol engine machines.

Results received by the protocol engine module 32 from the mail systems24, 26, 28 are similarly translated into the common interface protocolfor translation into a client-supported protocol, if necessary, andtransmission to a client. The results communicated back to a clientpreferably include only data that was requested by the client. Datacorresponding to features that are supported by a mail system protocolbut not by a client protocol may be translated into the common interfaceprotocol, but it may also be ignored or handled according to a defaultor error processing scheme, as noted above.

A method of protocol translation using the protocol engine module 32 andinterface connector modules 71-77 is now described with reference toFIG. 15. Beginning at Block 150, an access request or command isreceived, at Block 151. The access request is translated into a protocolsupported by the target data system, at Block 152. Data is received fromthe data system in response to the request, at Block 153, and it istranslated into the common interface protocol, at Block 154. Furthertranslation of the data into a client protocol may be performed, ifnecessary, at Block 155, and the data transmitted to the client at Block156, thus concluding the illustrated method, at Block 157.

Again, depending upon the particular features supported by the clientprotocol, only portions of the data corresponding to elements of thecommon interface protocol that are supported by the client protocol aretranslated. As described above, non-supported interface protocolelements may be ignored or processed according to a default or errorprocessing scheme.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an alternate embodiment of the above-describedprotocol conversion module architecture is now described. Here, theprotocol engine module 32 takes the form of a universal proxy (UP)servlet module 80, and each interface connector module 81, 82, 83 and arespective provider module 84, 85, 86 are associated with differentoperating protocols. In the illustrated example, the different protocolsare OWA, IMAP, and POP. Further or different protocols may be supportedby corresponding provider/connection pairs, as will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art.

For a common interface protocol, such as the proprietary interfaceprotocol described above, the UP servlet module 80 takes incoming commonformat requests and translates them into calls, using the definedinterfaces, to the interface connector modules 81-83. The UP servletmodule 80 also takes the results of these calls and formats them intocommon format requests. Each common format request includes a methodrequest and a path in the form of a URL. It may also include an XMLdocument that provides additional parameters for the request.

Conceptually, below the UP servlet module 80 there is a provider module84-86 for each supported mail system protocol. The providers take careof handling the calls made by the UP servlet module 80. As shown, eachprovider has a connection, which takes care of communicating with thesource mailbox/account on a target mail system. Initially, theconnection will also be the provider.

The interfaces used by the UP servlet 80 and implemented by the providermodules 84-86 define a loose folder hierarchy. In fact, it may beconceptualized as a collection of collections of items. An item can be amessage, a folder, or a contact, for example, or any other data item tobe represented. Each item has a defined type (e.g., mail, contact,appointment). An interface for each type of item defines the propertiesand actions that are available for that type of item. A folder itemincludes a collection of items, and provides methods to enumerate theitems within a folder.

The connector interface modules 81-83 provide a common way for the UPservlet module 80 to communicate with different providermodules/interface connector modules. Some connector modules may onlyimplement a subset of the protocol and/or may only support a singlefolder (collection) of items, as in the case of POP.

The basic flow for an exemplary common format request proceeds asfollows. The UP servlet module 80 receives the request, and it eitherretrieves or creates the appropriate provider/connection. The UP servletmodule 80 then calls an appropriate “get folder” or similar functionassociated with the interface connector module, passing a target mailsystem identifier, such as a URL that was included in the common formatrequest. The interface connection module returns a reference to someobject that implements the folder interface and represents the requestedfolder. In its simplest implementation (e.g., POP), a single objectcould be the interface connector module and also represent the mailboxfolder.

The UP servlet module 80 uses the returned folder reference to makeadditional calls to satisfy the common format request. For example, ifthe UP servlet module 80 needs to retrieve a specific item, it may firstcall a “get folder” function, passing the requested URL, and after ithas the folder, it will then call a “get item” function, again passingthe URL. The results of the call(s) are then formatted into anappropriate format, such as XML, and returned in an HTTP response.

It will be up to the provider module/interface connection module tointerpret a URL passed in and return the appropriate reference. Thiswill not be complicated because the provider module/interface connectionmodule provides the URLs in the first place. The only URL that anyinterface connection module will be required to know about is “\”. Allother URLs are generated by the provider/connection. As long as the URLswithin the hierarchy/collections are unique, the provider will be ableto resolve to the correct item when a “get” function is called.

The provider modules 84-86 and interface connection modules 81-83preferably support a root folder. If only a root folder is supported,then inbox, calendar, and contact items (as appropriate) should be itemswithin that folder if they are to be accessible through a protocolengine.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a single, advantageousmechanism to access various types of protocols is provided. Thismechanism supports the full functionality of each data system protocolfor similarly capable client protocols, and degrades when a specificdata system protocol feature is not supported by a client protocol.Requests received in a common format are translated into aprovider/protocol specific format before forwarding the request on tothe destination server. Responses from the destination server, which arein provider/protocol specific format, are translated back into thecommon format.

A mechanism for a client to query supported functionality for a specificprovider module, giving the client greater control over how it generatesrequests to the provider, is also provided. Any client written tosupport the common protocol format, directly or through a proxy, caneasily provide access to any mail store without concerning itself withthe details of the mail store provider module/protocol.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 9, another embodiment of the protocolinterface device 14″ is now described. Here, user e-mail accountinformation associated with e-mail accounts to be accessed through theprotocol interface device 14″ is stored in a data store 90″. Theper-account information preferably includes an indication of the accessprotocols supported for each e-mail account.

Records in the data store 90″ may be arranged by an account identifier,such as an e-mail address, or by a user name associated with theprotocol interface device 14″ such that all e-mail account informationfor particular users is grouped in the data store 90″, for example.Where access protocol support is the same for all e-mail accounts oneach of the mail systems 24″, 26″, the per-account information mayinclude mail system information indicating the operating protocolssupported by each mail system.

A data store 91″ stores a list of all operating protocols supported bythe protocol engine module 32″, and corresponding metrics (i.e.,ranking) representing protocol preferences. These metrics are calculatedbased on capability criteria, such as the degree to which features ofeach mail system 24″, 26″ are supported by a protocol and the securitylevel of a protocol, for example. Other criteria may also be used andwill be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the data store 91″, OWAwould typically have a higher metric or ranking than MAPI, and IMAPwould generally be ranked higher than POP. Each of the data stores 90″,91″ may be implemented, for example, in a database on a local hard diskor other memory at the protocol interface device 14″, or on a fileserver with which the protocol interface device communicates.

The protocol engine module 32″ determines to which mailbox(es) oraccount(s) the command or instruction relates, and then accesses theper-account information in the data store 90″ to determine whether morethan one access protocol is supported for each account to be accessed.If only one access protocol is supported, then that protocol isselected. Where more than one access protocol is supported for theaccount, then the protocol engine module 32″ accesses the data store 91″to determine which supported protocol is preferred or desired, and thesupported protocol with the highest metric or ranking is selected. Forthe mail system 24″, OWA is preferably selected over MAPI, and for themail system 26″, IMAP is preferably selected over POP.

The protocol interface device 14″ thus allows access to the mail systems24″, 26″ using a most capable supported protocol. Through the protocolinterface device 14″, a client compatible with any of the proxy modules34″, 36″, 38″, 40″ is provided access to one or more of the mail systems24″, 26″. The client itself need not support the access protocol orscheme associated with the mail system(s) to be accessed.

A method of data system access protocol selection using the protocolinterface device 14″ is now described with reference to FIG. 9.Beginning at Block 160, an access command is received from a client atBlock 161. A determination is made (Block 162) as to whether each datasystem to be accessed in response to the command supports more than oneaccess protocol. If so, then the most capable supported protocol isselected, at Block 164. Otherwise, the one supported protocol isselected, at Block 163. Each data system is accessed using the selectedprotocol, at Block 165, thus concluding the illustrated method, at Block166. Where more than one data system is to be accessed, the protocolselection steps illustrated at Blocks 162-164 are preferably repeatedfor each data system.

It should be noted that the protocol and metric data store 91″ is butone example exemplary of a protocol preference ranking technique thatmay be used in accordance with the present invention. Protocolpreferences may be inherent in the ordering of a list of supportedprotocols, for example.

Further criteria than metrics or overall preferences may also beconsidered when selecting a protocol. The type of client from which theaccess command is received may also affect protocol selection. Where theaccess command is received from a POP client, for example, many of theenhanced features supported by OWA cannot be represented in POP fortransfer to the device. If a user has only one type of client foraccessing the protocol interface device 14″, then the per-accountinformation may be adapted to reflect the type of client or to limit thelist of supported protocol based on the type of client. Otherwise, afurther step in protocol selection may be to determine the type ofclient from which an access request is received.

Alternatively, a most capable protocol supported by a data system to beaccessed may always be selected, and any incompatibility between theselected access protocol and the protocol supported by the client ishandled during translation of data to the client protocol. Portions ofdata corresponding to elements of the interface protocol that aresupported by the client protocol are translated, whereas non-supportedinterface protocol elements are ignored or processed according to adefault or error processing scheme.

Generally speaking, clients often access servers through proxies. Also,the latency is often positively correlated to the cardinality of thecollection being accessed (e.g., number of email messages in the mailboxbeing accessed). As will be evident from the following description, thepresent invention provides an apparatus and technique that may be usedby the proxy to give the client the illusion that the collection beingaccessed is smaller than it really is. For example, a proxy may showonly the 100 most recent messages in a mailbox, while the mailbox itselfhas 2000+messages. The present invention advantageously allows thisproxy to select a small subset of the collection that can be presentedto the client in lieu of the entire collection without a significantimpact to the user experience.

More particularly, turning now to FIG. 10, another advantageousembodiment of the protocol interface device 14″′ is now described.Generally speaking, when a data access request is received from aclient, the protocol interface device 14″′ accesses one or more of thedata systems 24″′, 26″′. However, in some cases accessing the datasystems and providing a response to the client might otherwise causetimeouts for certain client protocols, and longer than desired waittimes for a user of a client after a request has been sent. Yet, inaccordance with the present aspect of the invention, certain data may bestored at the protocol interface device 14″′ which may be used to reduceresponse times.

More particularly, the protocol engine module 32″′ polls the datasystems 24″′, 26″′ to determine whether they currently store data itemsassociated with users that have been configured for access thereof.Users are configured in the protocol interface device 14″′ byestablishing a user account associated therewith, for example. Pollingis preferably performed in accordance with a polling interval. Thepolling interface may be a static predetermined polling interval, or anadaptive polling interval that can be adjusted based on operatingconditions or the occurrence of particular events, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art.

In response to a poll from the protocol engine module 32″′, a given datasystem 24″′, 26″′ returns data items, or at least data item identifiersthat can be used to retrieve the data items, to the protocol interfacedevice 14″′. These data items or identifiers are then stored by theprotocol engine module 32″′ in the data store or memory 92″′.

In particular, the protocol engine module 32″′ may determine whether newdata items for a user are stored in any of the data systems 24″′, 26″′.Where the data systems 24″′, 26″′ are e-mail systems, for example, theprotocol engine module 32″′ queries mailboxes associated with each userconfigured for e-mail access through the protocol interface device 14″′.For each mailbox query, a mail system returns, at a minimum, a list ofunique identifiers (UIDs) associated with e-mail messages stored in themailbox.

A current UID list is then compared with a previous UID list for themailbox in the UID store 92″′ to determine whether new messages havebeen stored in the mailbox at the mail system. If new messages aredetected, an alert is preferably sent to a user's client by the protocolengine module 32″′ in cooperation with the front-end proxy module 30″′(or another component of the protocol interface device 14″′), and thecurrent UID list including the new messages is stored to the UID store92″′.

One of the most common data access operations is viewing a listing ofdata items currently stored at data systems, especially where the dataitems are messages stored on mail systems. As described above, theprotocol engine module 32″′ polls one or more of the data systems 24″′,26″′ to detect new data items based on a list of UIDs stored in the UIDstore 92″′. Therefore, the protocol interface device 14″′ has a locallisting of UIDs of data items that were stored at the data systems 24″′,26″′ the last time the data systems were polled.

In accordance with the present aspect of the invention, the protocolengine module 32″′ retrieves the stored UID list from the UID store 92″′when a “view items” or similar access request is received. This storedUID list, which is accurate to within the current polling interval, isthen returned to the requesting client. This provides a much fasterresponse time than accessing the data systems 24″′, 26″′ when therequest is received, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In the case of a POP client, for example, the client times out if noresponse to a request is received within 30 seconds. Where the POPclient is operating on a mobile wireless communications device, latencywithin the wireless communications network can cause delays that aresignificant relative to this limited response time. The faster responsetime associated with providing a stored UID list in response to a dataaccess request is particularly advantageous in these types of scenarios.Even in the absence of such time constraints, a faster response timeenhances the user experience at a client by reducing the wait timebetween sending a data access request and receiving a response.

As described above, the stored UID list is accurate to within thepolling interval. When the stored UID list is provided to a client inresponse to a data access request, the protocol engine module 32″′preferably polls the data system(s) 24″′, 26″′ to determine whether thestored UID list is still accurate. If new items have been stored at thedata system(s) 24″′, 26″′ since the last poll, then a new UID list issent to the client. This further polling of the data systems 24″′, 26″′is performed either according to the polling interval or initiated bythe data access request.

It will be appreciated that the preceding description relates to “viewitems” or similar data access requests. Other types of data accessrequests may be processed by other components or modules of the protocolinterface device 14″′. For example, such data access requests aretranslated, if necessary, by the front-end proxy module 30″′, asdescribed above.

The protocol interface device 14″′ thereby allows access to the datasystems 24″′, 26″′, and provides for reduced response times for varioustypes of data access requests. Through the protocol interface device14″′, a client compatible with any of the protocols handled by thefront-end proxy module 30″′ is provided access to one or more of thedata systems 24″′, 26″′. The client itself need not support the accessprotocol or scheme associated with the data system(s) 24″′, 26″′ to beaccessed, as noted above.

A method of reducing response times for data system access requestsusing the protocol interface device 14″′ is now described with respectto FIG. 17. Beginning at Block 170, a data access request is received atBlock 171. A determination is then made, at Block 172, as to whetherdata pertinent to the data access request (i.e., a UID list) is locallystored. Where such data is in a local store 92″′, then the stored datais provided to the requesting client, at Block 173. After the storeddata has been transmitted to the client, or if no such data has beenstored, the data system(s) 24″′, 26″′ to which the data access requestrelates is polled, at Block 174.

An optional step of determining whether the polled data received inresponse to a poll is different from the stored data may then beperformed at Block 175. If so, this means that there is new data storedon the data system(s) 24″′, 26″′, and the data received in response tothe poll is provided to the client, at Block 176. It is also locallystored in the data store 92″′, at Block 177, thus concluding theillustrated method (Block 178).

By way of example, data access systems and methods according to aspectsof the invention may be applied to other types of data storage devicesthan mail systems, and other protocols and access schemes than thosespecifically described above and shown in the drawings.

Additional features of the invention may be found in co-pendingapplications entitled COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING REDUCED ACCESSLATENCY AND RELATED METHODS, attorney docket number ID-494;COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM INCLUDING PROTOCOL INTERFACE FOR MULTIPLEOPERATING PROTOCOLS AND RELATED METHODS, attorney docket number ID-493;COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING EXTENSIBLE PROTOCOL TRANSLATION FEATURESAND RELATED METHODS, attorney docket number ID-507; COMMUNICATIONSSYSTEM PROVIDING MULTI-LAYERED EXTENSIBLE PROTOCOL INTERFACE AND RELATEDMETHODS, attorney docket number ID-503; COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDINGEXTENSIBLE PROTOCOL TRANSLATION AND CONFIGURATION FEATURES AND RELATEDMETHODS, attorney docket number ID-502; and COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMINCLUDING PROTOCOL INTERFACE DEVICE PROVIDING ENHANCED OPERATINGPROTOCOL SELECTION FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS, attorney docket numberID-495, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference.

EXAMPLE

An exemplary hand-held mobile wireless communications device 1000 thatcan be used in the present invention is further described in the examplebelow with reference to FIG. 18. The device 1000 includes a housing1200, a keyboard 1400 and an output device 1600. The output device shownis a display 1600, which is preferably a full graphic LCD. Other typesof output devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device1800 is contained within the housing 1200 and is coupled between thekeyboard 1400 and the display 1600. The processing device 1800 controlsthe operation of the display 1600, as well as the overall operation ofthe mobile device 1000, in response to actuation of keys on the keyboard1400 by the user.

The housing 1200 may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizesand shapes (including clamshell housing structures). The keyboard mayinclude a mode selection key, or other hardware or software forswitching between text entry and telephony entry.

In addition to the processing device 1800, other parts of the mobiledevice 1000 are shown schematically in FIG. 18. These include acommunications subsystem 1001; a short-range communications subsystem1020; the keyboard 1400 and the display 1600, along with otherinput/output devices 1060, 1080, 1100 and 1120; as well as memorydevices 1160, 1180 and various other device subsystems 1201. The mobiledevice 1000 is preferably a two-way RF communications device havingvoice and data communications capabilities. In addition, the mobiledevice 1000 preferably has the capability to communicate with othercomputer systems via the Internet.

Operating system software executed by the processing device 1800 ispreferably stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory 1160,but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read onlymemory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software,specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarilyloaded into a volatile store, such as the random access memory (RAM)1180. Communications signals received by the mobile device may also bestored in the RAM 1180.

The processing device 1800, in addition to its operating systemfunctions, enables execution of software applications 1300A-1300N on thedevice 1000. A predetermined set of applications that control basicdevice operations, such as data and voice communications 1300A and1300B, may be installed on the device 1000 during manufacture. Inaddition, a personal information manager (PIM) application may beinstalled during manufacture. The PIM is preferably capable oforganizing and managing data items, such as e-mail, calendar events,voice mails, appointments, and task items. The PIM application is alsopreferably capable of sending and receiving data items via a wirelessnetwork 1401. Preferably, the PIM data items are seamlessly integrated,synchronized and updated via the wireless network 1401 with the deviceuser's corresponding data items stored or associated with a hostcomputer system.

Communication functions, including data and voice communications, areperformed through the communications subsystem 1001, and possiblythrough the short-range communications subsystem. The communicationssubsystem 1001 includes a receiver 1500, a transmitter 1520, and one ormore antennas 1540 and 1560. In addition, the communications subsystem1001 also includes a processing module, such as a digital signalprocessor (DSP) 1580, and local oscillators (LOs) 1601. The specificdesign and implementation of the communications subsystem 1001 isdependent upon the communications network in which the mobile device1000 is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device 1000 mayinclude a communications subsystem 1001 designed to operate with theMobitex™, Data TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile datacommunications networks, and also designed to operate with any of avariety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, PCS,GSM, etc. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate andintegrated, may also be utilized with the mobile device 1000.

Network access requirements vary depending upon the type ofcommunication system. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks,mobile devices are registered on the network using a unique personalidentification number or PIN associated with each device. In GPRSnetworks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber oruser of a device. A GPRS device therefore requires a subscriber identitymodule, commonly referred to as a SIM card, in order to operate on aGPRS network.

When required network registration or activation procedures have beencompleted, the mobile device 1000 may send and receive communicationssignals over the communication network 1401. Signals received from thecommunications network 1401 by the antenna 1540 are routed to thereceiver 1500, which provides for signal amplification, frequency downconversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provideanalog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of thereceived signal allows the DSP 1580 to perform more complexcommunications functions, such as demodulation and decoding. In asimilar manner, signals to be transmitted to the network 1401 areprocessed (e.g. modulated and encoded) by the DSP 1580 and are thenprovided to the transmitter 1520 for digital to analog conversion,frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission tothe communication network 1401 (or networks) via the antenna 1560.

In addition to processing communications signals, the DSP 1580 providesfor control of the receiver 1500 and the transmitter 1520. For example,gains applied to communications signals in the receiver 1500 andtransmitter 1520 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gaincontrol algorithms implemented in the DSP 1580.

In a data communications mode, a received signal, such as a text messageor web page download, is processed by the communications subsystem 1001and is input to the processing device 1800. The received signal is thenfurther processed by the processing device 1800 for an output to thedisplay 1600, or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device 1060.A device user may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages,using the keyboard 1400 and/or some other auxiliary I/O device 1060,such as a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other typeof input device. The composed data items may then be transmitted overthe communications network 1401 via the communications subsystem 1001.

In a voice communications mode, overall operation of the device issubstantially similar to the data communications mode, except thatreceived signals are output to a speaker 1100, and signals fortransmission are generated by a microphone 1120. Alternative voice oraudio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, mayalso be implemented on the device 1000. In addition, the display 1600may also be utilized in voice communications mode, for example todisplay the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call,or other voice call related information. The short-range communicationssubsystem enables communication between the mobile device 1000 and otherproximate systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similardevices. For example, the short-range communications subsystem mayinclude an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or aBluetooth™ communications module to provide for communication withsimilarly-enabled systems and devices.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications andembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Computer Program Listings   Program Listing #1 - ExemplaryAuthentication Request   PROPFIND/ups HTTP/1.1   Depth: 0   Brief: t  Pragma: no-cache   Content-Type: text/xml   X_UP_LOGIN:svr=login.oscar.aol.com&prt=5190&ssl=0&pcol=aol&uid=******&pwd=******&pwp=  X_UP_SYNC: false   X_UP_REFRESH_CACHE: force   X_UP_NEWCON: 1  User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows NT 5.0)  Connection: Keep-Alive   Host: localhost:9080   Content-Length: 664  <?xml version=“1.0”?>   <D:propfind xmlns:D=“DAV:”  xmlns:h=“http://schemas.microsoft.com/hotmail/”xmlns:hm=“urn:schemas:httpmail:”xmlns:up=“urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy”>    <D: prop>    <hm:contacts/>     <hm:calendar/>     <hm:journal/>     <hm:notes/>    <hm:inbox/>     <hm:outbox/>     <hm:sendmsg/>     <hm:sentitems/>    <hm:deleteditems/>     <hm:drafts/>     <hm:msgfolderroot/>    <up:corporatecontacts/>     <h:maxpoll/>     <h:sig/>    </D:prop>  </D:propfind>   HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status   Set-Cookie:JSESSIONID=C70CD1AED7D2BE210B34D93F7ACD6935; Path=/ups   Content-Type:text/xml   Transfer-Encoding: chunked   Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 18:20:28GMT   Server: Apache Coyote/1.0   <?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8”?>  <D:multistatus xmlns:D=“DAV:”  xmlns:up=“urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy”  xmlns:c=“urn:schemas:calendar.”            xmlns:a=“urn:schemas:contacts:”  xmlns:hm=“urn:schemas:httpmail:” xmlns:m=“urn:schemas:mailheader.”>   <D:response>     <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <hm:inbox>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/</hm:inbox>  <hm:sendmsg>http://localhost9080/ups/AOL_MAIL_SUBMISSION_URL/</hm:sendmsg>      <hm:sentitems>http://localhost:9080/ups/Sent Items/</hm:sentitems>      <hm:msgfolderroot>http://localhost:9080/ups/</hm:msgfolderroot>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>   </D:multistatus>  Program Listing #2 - Exemplary Inbox Request   Query FolderCapabilities:   REQUEST:   OPTIONS /ups/INBOX/ HTTP/1.1   User-Agent:Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows NT 5.0)   Connection:Keep-Alive   Host: localhost:9080   Cookie:JSESSIONID=C70CD1AED7D2BE210B34D93F7ACD6935   Content-Length: 0  RESPONSE:   HTTP/1.1 200 OK   allow: OPTIONS, PROPFIND, MOVE, DELETE,BDELETE, BMOVE, SEARCH   dasl:<urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy:basicsearch>   Content-Type: text/plain  Content-Length: 0   Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 18:20:28 GMT   Server:Apache Coyote/1.0   List messages in INBOX:   REQUEST:   PROPFIND/ups/INBOX/ HTTP/1.1   Range: rows=0-24   Depth: 1,noroot   Brief: t  Pragma: no-cache   Content-Type: text/xml   X_UP_REFRESH_CACHE: force  User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows NT 5.0)  Connection: Keep-Alive   Host: localhost:9080   Cookie:JSESSIONID=C70CD1AED7D2BE210B34D93F7ACD6935   Content-Length: 586  <?xml version=“1.0”?>   <D:propfind xmlns:D=“DAV:”xmlns:hm=“urn:schemas:httpmail:” xmlns:m=“urn:schemas:mailheader.”xmlns:up=“urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy”>    <D:prop>     <D:uid/>    <D:isfolder/>     <D:ishidden/>     <hm:read/>    <hm:hasattachment/>     <hm:importance/>     <m:from/>    <m:subject/>     <m:date/>     <up:isdeleted/>    <D:getcontentlength/>     <D:contentclass/>    </D:prop>  </D:propfind>   RESPONSE:   HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status   Content-Range:rows 0-8; total=9   Content-Type: text/xml   Transfer-Encoding: chunked  Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 18:20:28 GMT   Server: Apache Coyote/1.0  <?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8”?>   <D:multistatus  xmlns:D=“DAV:”   xmlns:up=“urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy”xmlns:c=“urn:schemas:calendar.” xmlns:a=“urn:schemas:contacts:” xmlns:hm=“urn:schemas:httpmail:”xmlns:m=“urn:schemas:mailheader:”>   <D:contentrange>0-8</D:contentrange>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623963; 1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>3ac59b38c08ad3356435efea144660e3</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>0</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>       <m:from>Mail DeliverySubsystem &lt;MAILER-DAEMON@aol.com></m:from>       <m:subject>Returnedmail: User unknown</m:subject>      <m:date>2003-08-05T23:12:48Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>3247</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>   <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623954;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>51073b22a28c2820115bc80d42e8c6ec</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>1</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>johnsmith@demo.com</m:from>       <m:subject>Re: Test#1-All -French template</m:subject>      <m:date>2003-08-05T23:10:30Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>1577</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623926;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>b072c3748ceff1320f9fa746f797e64b</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>1</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>johnsmith@demo.com</m:from>       <m:subject>Re: xxxFWD:Re: Test #1</m:subject>       <m:date>2003-08-05T23:07:18Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>1927</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623922;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>11f1c8e69555d33971aea12c09be5021</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>1</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>johnsmith@demo.com</m:from>       <m:subject>Re: xxxFWD:Re: Test #1</m:subject>       <m:date>2003-08-05T23:06:45Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>1930</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623915;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>55bc30adfb4fb66f3d11b0416c82b701</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>1</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>1</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>johnsmith@demo.com</m:from>       <m:subject>xxxFWD: Re:Test #1</m:subject>       <m:date>2003-08-05T23:05:27Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>3254</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623910;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>07cdf24a06f8e849754f90fe6dc8bf4f</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>1</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>johnsmith@demo.com</m:from>       <m:subject>Re: Test#1-All</m:subject>       <m:date>2003-08-05T23:04:31Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>1258</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6623909;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>0e79a3593253ffb9596bf9d86873f498</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>1</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>johnsmith@demo.com</m:from>       <m:subject>Re: Test#1</m:subject>       <m:date>2003-08-05T23:04:13Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>1241</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6605332;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>6060b944e60256c814498af29e5f0e47</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>0</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>aolmbrsecurity@aol.com</m:from>       <m:subject>SecurityNotice to AOL Members</m:subject>      <m:date>2003-08-01T23:00:58Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>5137</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/6567082;1</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>f47b72c8c1aa91458f40f81fce3b5e05</D:uid>      <D:isfolder>0</D:isfolder>       <D:ishidden>0</D:ishidden>      <hm:read>0</hm:read>       <hm:hasattachment>0</hm:hasattachment>      <hm:importance>1</hm:importance>      <m:from>aolmemberinfo@aol.com</m:from>       <m:subject>ComingSoon - AOL 9.0 Optimized</m:subject>      <m:date>2003-07-25T21:15:22Z</m:date>      <up:isdeleted>0</up:isdeleted>      <D:getcontentlength>10012</D:getcontentlength>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:message</D:contentclass>     </D:prop>     </D:propstat>    </D:response>   </D:multistatus>  Program Listing #3 - Exemplary Folder Search Request   Capabilities offolder:   REQUEST:   OPTIONS /ups HTTP/1.1   User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0(compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows NT 5.0)   Connection: Keep-Alive   Host:localhost:9080   Cookie: JSESSIONID=C70CD1AED7D2BE210B34D93F7ACD6935  Content-Length: 0   RESPONSE:   HTTP/1.1 200 OK   allow: OPTIONS,PROPFIND, MOVE, DELETE, BDELETE, BMOVE, SEARCH   dasl:<urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy:basicsearch>   Content-Type: text/plain  Content-Length: 0   Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 18:20:28 GMT   Server:Apache Coyote/1.0   Search for folders:   REQUEST:   SEARCH /upsHTTP/1.1   Depth: 1,noroot   Brief: t   Pragma: no-cache   Content-Type:text/xml   User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows NT5.0)   Connection: Keep-Alive   Host: localhost:9080   Cookie:JSESSIONID=C70CD1AED7D2BE210B34D93F7ACD6935   Content-Length: 922  <?xml version=“1.0”?>   <D:searchrequest xmlns:D=“DAV:”xmlns:t=“urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy”>    <t:basicsearch>    <D:select>      <D:prop><D:uid/></D:prop>     <D:prop><D:contentclass/></D:prop>     <D:prop><D:displayname/></D:prop>     </D:select>     <D:from>     <D:scope>       <D:href>url</D:href>       <D:depth>1</D:depth>     </D:scope>     </D:from>     <D:where>      <D:eq>      <D:prop><D:contentclass/></D:prop>      <D:literal>urn:content-classes:mailfolder</D:literal>      </D:eq>    </D:where>    </t:basicsearch>   </D:searchrequest>   RESPONSE:  HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status   Content-Type:text/xml   Transfer-Encoding:chunked   Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 18:20:28 GMT   Server: ApacheCoyote/1.0   <?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8”?>   <D:multistatus  xmlns:D=“DAV:”   xmlns:up=“urn:schemas:corp:universalproxy”xmlns:c=“urn:schemas:calendar:” xmlns:a=“urn:schemas:contacts:”xmlns:hm=“urn:schemas:httpmail:” xmlns:m=“urn:schemas:mailheader:”>   <D:response>     <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/INBOX/</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>c90d66b2362a1a0bc3df1852021a6f63</D:uid>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:mailfolder</D:contentclass>      <D:displayname>INBOX/</D:displayname>      </D:prop>    </D:propstat>    </D:response>    <D:response>    <D:href>http://localhost:9080/ups/VOICE-MAIL/</D:href>    <D:propstat>      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>      <D:prop>      <D:uid>cabbce34709ab79d2ad2d5334d998272</D:uid>      <D:contentclass>urn:content-classes:mailfolder</D:contentclass>      <D:displayname>VOICE-MAIL/</D:displayname>      </D:prop>    </D:propstat>    </D:response>   </D:multistatus>   Program Listing#4 - Exemplary Configuration File   <resource    contentclass=“urn:content-classes:mailfolder”    javaclass=“com.teamon.proxy.data.impl.MailFolderImpl”    responsecacheduration=“0”     cachestrength=“0”>    <requestmethod=“PROPFIND”>     <header name=“Brief” value=“t” />     <headername=“Content-Type” value=“text/xml”/>     <headername=“Depth” value=“1,noroot”/>     <headername=“Range” value=“rows=$rangeStart$-$rangeEnd$”/>     <headername=“Pragma” value=“no-cache”/>     <header name=“X_UP_REFRESH_CACHE”value=“force” />     <body><![CDATA[      <?xml version=“1.0”?>     <D:propfind        xmlns:D=“DAV:”       xmlns:hm=“urn:schemas:httpmail:”       xmlns:m=“urn:schemas:mailheader:”       xmlns:up=“urn:schemas:teamon:universalproxy”>       <D:prop>       <D:uid/>        <D:isfolder/>        <D:ishidden/>       <hm:read/>        <hm:hasattachment/>        <hm:importance/>       <m:from/>        <m:subject/>        <m:date/>       <up:isdeleted/>        <D:getcontentlength/>       <D:contentclass/>       </D:prop>      </D:propfind>      ]]>    </body>    </request>   </resource>

1. A communications system comprising: a plurality of data storagedevices storing data based upon at least one of a plurality of differentoperating protocols; a plurality of mobile wireless communicationsdevices each accessing said data storage devices based upon at least oneof the plurality of different operating protocols; and a protocolinterface device comprising a front-end proxy module communicating withsaid plurality of mobile wireless communications devices based uponrespective operating protocols, a protocol engine module communicatingwith said front-end proxy module, a respective interface connectormodule translating communications between said protocol engine moduleand said plurality of data storage devices for each of the differentoperating protocols, and a data store for storing supported operatingprotocols for each of said data storage devices and protocol capabilityranking metrics for the operating protocols based upon a number ofsupported protocol features, said protocol engine module cooperatingwith said data store for selecting a supported operating protocol foraccessing each of said data storage devices based upon the protocolcapability ranking metrics.
 2. The communications system of claim 1wherein said protocol engine module comprises a universal proxy servletmodule.
 3. The communications system of claim 2 wherein said protocolinterface device further comprises a plurality of provider modulescoupled between said universal proxy servlet module and said pluralityof interface connector modules; and wherein said universal proxy servletmodule generates calls for said plurality of interface connector modulesbased upon respective data access requests from said front-end proxymodule, and wherein said plurality of provider modules transfer thecalls to respective interface connector modules.
 4. The communicationssystem of claim 1 wherein said interface connector modules comprise aPost Office Protocol (POP) connector module and an Internet MessageAccess Protocol (IMAP) connector module.
 5. The communications system ofclaim 1 wherein said plurality of data storage devices, said pluralityof mobile wireless communications devices, and said protocol interfacedevice process electronic mail (e-mail) messages.
 6. The communicationssystem of claim 1 wherein said protocol interface device generates anerror responsive to at least one non-supported operating protocol. 7.The communications system of claim 1 further comprising a wide areanetwork (WAN) connecting at least one of said mobile wirelesscommunications devices with said protocol interface device.
 8. Thecommunications system of claim 1 further comprising a wide area network(WAN) connecting at least one of said data storage devices with saidprotocol interface device.
 9. A protocol interface device forinterfacing a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices with aplurality of data storage devices, the mobile wireless communicationsdevices and the data storage devices each using at least one of aplurality of different operating protocols, the protocol interfacedevice comprising: a front-end proxy module for communicating with theplurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respectiveoperating protocols; a protocol engine module communicating with thefront-end proxy module, a respective interface connector module fortranslating communications between said protocol engine module and theplurality of data storage devices f or each of the different operatingprotocols, and a data store for storing supported operating protocolsfor each of said data storage devices and protocol capability rankingmetrics for the operating protocols based upon a number of supportedprotocol features, said protocol engine module cooperating with saiddata store for selecting a supported operating protocol for accessingeach of said data storage devices based upon the protocol capabilityranking metrics.
 10. The protocol interface device of claim 9 whereinsaid protocol engine module comprises a universal proxy servlet module.11. The protocol interface device of claim 10 further comprising aplurality of provider modules coupled between said universal proxyservlet module and said plurality of interface connector modules; andwherein said universal proxy servlet module generates calls for saidplurality of interface connector modules based upon respective dataaccess requests from said front-end proxy module, and wherein saidplurality of provider modules transfer the calls to respective interfaceconnector modules.
 12. The protocol interface device of claim 9 whereinthe plurality of data storage devices, the plurality of mobile wirelesscommunications devices, and the protocol interface device processelectronic mail (e-mail) messages.
 13. A protocol interface device forinterfacing a plurality of communications devices with a plurality ofdata storage devices, the communications devices and the data storagedevices each using at least one of a plurality of different operatingprotocols, the protocol interface device comprising: a front-end proxymodule for communicating with the plurality of communications devicesusing respective operating protocols; a protocol engine modulecommunicating with the front-end proxy module, a respective interfaceconnector module for translating communications between said protocolengine module and the plurality of data storage devices for each of thedifferent operating protocols, and a data store for storing supportedoperating protocols for each of said data storage devices and protocolcapability ranking metrics for the operating protocols based upon anumber of supported protocol features, said protocol engine modulecooperating with said data store for selecting a supported operatingprotocol for accessing each of said data storage devices based upon theprotocol capability ranking metrics.
 14. The protocol interface deviceof claim 13 wherein said protocol engine module comprises a universalproxy servlet module.
 15. The protocol interface device of claim 14further comprising a plurality of provider modules coupled between saiduniversal proxy servlet module and said plurality of interface connectormodules; and wherein said universal proxy servlet module generates callsfor said plurality of interface connector modules based upon respectivedata access requests from said front-end proxy module, and wherein saidplurality of provider modules transfer the calls to respective interfaceconnector modules.
 16. The protocol interface device of claim 13 whereinthe plurality of data storage devices, the plurality of mobile wirelesscommunications devices, and the protocol interface device processelectronic mail (e-mail) messages.
 17. A method for interfacing aplurality of mobile wireless communications devices with a plurality ofdata storage devices, the mobile wireless communications devices and thedata storage devices each using at least one of a plurality of differentoperating protocols, the method comprising: providing a front-end proxymodule for communicating with the plurality of mobile wirelesscommunications devices using respective operating protocols; providing aprotocol engine module communicating with the front-end proxy module;providing a respective interface connector module for translatingcommunications between the protocol engine module and the plurality ofdata storage devices for each of the different operating protocols; andproviding a data store for storing supported operating protocols foreach of said data storage devices and protocol capability rankingmetrics for the operating protocols based upon a number of supportedprotocol features; the protocol engine module cooperating with the datastore for selecting a supported operating protocol for accessing each ofsaid data storage devices based upon the protocol capability rankingmetrics.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the protocol engine modulecomprises a universal proxy servlet module.
 19. The method of claim 18further comprising a plurality of provider modules coupled between theuniversal proxy servlet module and the plurality of interface connectormodules; and wherein the universal proxy servlet module generates callsfor the plurality of interface connector modules based upon respectivedata access requests from the front-end proxy module, and wherein theplurality of provider modules transfer the calls to respective interfaceconnector modules.
 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality ofdata storage devices, the plurality of mobile wireless communicationsdevices, and the protocol interface device process electronic mail(e-mail) messages.
 21. A computer-readable medium having computerexecutable modules for interfacing a plurality of mobile wirelesscommunications devices with a plurality of data storage devices, themobile wireless communications devices and the data storage devices eachusing at least one of a plurality of different operating protocols, thecomputer-readable medium comprising: a front-end proxy module forcommunicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communicationsdevices using respective operating protocols; a protocol engine modulecommunicating with the front-end proxy module; a respective interfaceconnector module for translating communications between the protocolengine module and the plurality of data storage devices for each of thedifferent operating protocols; and a data store module for storingsupported operating protocols for each of the data storage devices andprotocol capability ranking metrics for the operating protocols basedupon a number of supported protocol features; said protocol enginemodule cooperating with said data store module for selecting a supportedoperating protocol for accessing each of the data storage devices basedupon the protocol capability ranking metrics.
 22. The computer-readablemedium of claim 21 wherein the protocol engine module comprises auniversal proxy servlet module.
 23. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 22 further comprising a plurality of provider modules coupledbetween the universal proxy servlet module and the plurality ofinterface connector modules; and wherein the universal proxy servletmodule generates calls for the plurality of interface connector modulesbased upon respective data access requests from the front-end proxymodule, and wherein the plurality of provider modules transfer the callsto respective interface connector modules.
 24. The computer-readablemedium of claim 21 wherein the plurality of data storage devices, theplurality of mobile wireless communications devices, and the protocolinterface device process electronic mail (e-mail) messages.